50. Philadelphia Flyers

Considering the Flyers' all-time points percentage of .578 (at the end of last season) is second-best in the NHL (behind the Montreal Canadiens' .590), it's easy to see why this team garners such a loyal following.

While Philly fans are known for their hardcore nature during other sporting venues, the NHL game is a different animal.

An average of 19,697 crammed, anxious and eager fans is expected to motivate any team.

49. Portland Trailblazers

Considering this sleek franchise sold out 814 consecutive home games (the longest sellout streak in American major professional sports) from 1977 to 1995, the team must be at least marginally beloved.

While the Trail Blazers do only have one championship and dealt with the illegal controversy surrounding past players known as the "Jail Blazers", its recent prosperity has undoubtedly given fans hope of a promising future.

Their choice of Greg Oden with the first-overall pick of the 2007 Draft, however, is looking disastrous.

47. New Orleans Saints

Arguably no team had a greater story in the history of the NFL than the New Orleans Saints in 2010.

While they are known for going more than a decade before finishing with a .500 record, two decades before having a winning season, and over four decades before finally reaching the Super Bowl, the Saints have now become a high-flying offensive powerhouse that excites fans.

Following Hurricane Katrina, this team fought behind the "bruised" shoulder of Drew Brees to win Super Bowl XLIV against the Indianapolis Colts and bring New Orleans their first championship.

46. Ohio State Buckeyes Football

While recent allegations against prolific signal caller Terrelle Pryor and the firing of legendary head coach Jim Tressel have temporarily tarnished the respected reputation of the Ohio State football program, the Buckeyes are undoubtedly still beloved.

With Braxton Miller causing fans to drool and the recent hiring of former Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer, a return to the national spotlight seems imminent for the Buckeyes.

45. Calgary Flames

While the Flames have won two Presidents' Trophies and five division championships, their franchise man Jarome Iginla (leader in games played, goals and points) is likely the main fan attraction.

Still, their popularity stems ever further.

The Calgary franchise owns a Western Hockey League franchise (the Calgary Hitmen) and a National Lacrosse League franchise (the Calgary Roughnecks), and has donated over $32 million to charity throughout southern Alberta since the franchise arrived.

39. San Francisco Giants

While they have won the most games of any team in the history of American baseball and any North American professional sports team, the new-look Giants are likely garnering a new generation of fans with their passionate nature and dedication to speed and defense.

With 21 National League pennants and 18 World Series appearances (six World Series Championships), it's no wonder the San Francisco franchise has the most Hall-of-Fame players in professional baseball.

Once occupying the Polo Grounds as the New York Giants, the team moved to California after the 1957 season. Four Pennants and the 2010 World Series since then has undoubtedly warmed a chilly Bay Area crowd.

38. Atlanta Braves

While the Braves are known for winning the NL East division 14 consecutive times from 1991 to 2005, the team undoubtedly garnered a large following from being broadcast on nationally-available TBS until 2008.

16 divisional titles, 17 National League pennants and three World Series championships is impressive, but being the only MLB franchise to have won the World Series in three different home cities is unheard of.

35. New England Patriots

While the beasts of the AFC East may be despised by many, they continue to garner a significant percentage of league buzz.

Pretty-boy Tom Brady may be shivering in the cold tundra of New England, but he sure isn't hidden from the camera.

While the Patriots are known for being the second team in NFL history (after the Dallas Cowboys) to win three Super Bowls in four years, it's Gisele Bundchen who undoubtedly improves the team's respect.

34. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

This holy team has seemingly fed off its recent success rather than a rich past.

Not only were the Angels AL Western Division champions for three straight seasons (2007-2009), they also attracted more than three million fans in attendance for the regular season for the ninth straight year this past season.

While signing eventual MVP Vladimir Guerrero was an exciting splash in 2004, free-spending owner Arte Moreno continues to throw money at whomever he pleases these days as well.

32. Liverpool F.C.

While the team has won eighteen League titles (second most in English football), Liverpool's hardcore following has garnered just as much attention as the team itself.

From charging Liverpool fans causing a wall to collapse over 39 Juventus fans in the 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster to Liverpool fans losing their lives in a crush against perimeter fencing in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, these fans have seemingly always been at the core of hardcore.

30. Chicago Bulls

While the illustrious Bulls once garnered a following for their six championships in eight years (with two three-peats) during their prolific '90s dynasty, an unsuccessful early 2000s led to a lacking hardwood fanbase.

But with the recent influx of youth and energy and the prodigious play of reigning MVP Derrick Rose, this team steadily approached 21,791 average fans last season.

29. Texas Longhorns Football

While they were ranked as the seventh-most prestigious college football program since 1936 by ESPN in 2008, it's the Longhorns' all-time winning percentage of .723 that ranks the team as the second-winningest in NCAA history.

With the likes of Earl Campbell, Ricky Williams and Vince Young exciting Texas fans in past years, it's easy to see why the team has become so illustrious.

28. North Carolina Tar Heels Basketball

While a .736 all-time winning percentage (second highest all-time behind Kentucky), 2,040 victories, and the most consecutive 20-win seasons (31 seasons from 1970 to 2001) garners North Carolina plenty of respect, its rich roster has undoubtedly brought more reverence to the Tar Heels.

With the likes of Michael Jordan and James Worthy having starred at UNC, it's easy to see why the team has such a strong following.

24. Chicago Bears

While Daaa Bears hold the NFL records for the most members in the Hall of Fame (27), the most retired jersey numbers (13), and more regular season and overall victories than any other NFL franchise, it's their role on Saturday Night Live that made them immortal.

21. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football

They may not be affiliated with any conference, but with Notre Dame's home games televised on NBC a widespread following is likely.

With 11 national championships claimed (second out of all FBS schools) and 96 All-Americans produced (more than any other Football Bowl Subdivision school), the gold-helmeted Fighting Irish continue to build upon their rich tradition.

The inspirational Rudy undeniably brought plenty of fans and respect to this illustrious school.

20. Boston Celtics

While 17 championships (eight in a row from 1959 to 1966) headlines an accomplished resume, the Boston Celtics have always rested in the upper echelon of basketball lore with their record 10 MVP awards.

With dominating talent, a diehard fanbase and their involvement in many heated Eastern Conference rivalries, the Celtics continue to simultaneously garner reverence and hate.

18. Duke Blue Devils Basketball

As the fourth-winningest men's basketball program of all-time with four NCAA championships and an NCAA-best .750 tournament winning percentage, it's easy to see why the consistent Blue Devils are loved by some and hated by many.

Coached by the illustrious Mike Krzyzewski, Duke has produced 71 NBA players and 11 National Players of the Year.

The large fanbase undoubtedly remembers the team's 200 consecutive appearances in the AP Top 25 from 1996 to 2007 (second-longest streak in history).

16. New York Knicks

With a dedicated fanbase and a superfluous amount of media attention, the New York Knicks have become one of only two teams of the original National Basketball Association still located in its original city (Boston Celtics).

While the team has only made the playoffs twice in the past decade, their placement in the heart of what some call the "Mecca of basketball" gives the team plenty of attention and many chances to shine.

Wins and losses have never seemed to affect a sellout crowd, as celebrities continue to flood the sidelines.

15. Montreal Canadiens

Not only was this respected franchise founded in 1909 (longest continuously operating professional ice hockey team and the only existing NHL club to predate the NHL), but the Canadiens are the only remaining team of the four major sports to be based in the province of Quebec.

With 24 Stanley Cups (most all-time) and 21,273 average attendees, the Montreal franchise will seemingly never lose its respected reputation.

12. Pittsburgh Steelers

This team's illustrious mustard-covered past has garnered a dedicated and appreciative fanbase.

While the Steelers have won more Super Bowl titles (six), won more AFC Championship Games (eight), and hosted more conference championship games (11) than any other AFC or NFC team, it's their consistently-fearless defensive presence that has continued to scare opponents and excite Pittsburgh fans.

11. Arsenal F.C.

While 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups garners plenty of respect, Arsenal's role as the third most valuable Association football club in the world as of 2010 ($1.2 billion) undoubtedly brings the most attention.

10. New York Giants

While the New York Giants rank third among all NFL franchises with seven NFL titles and are a part of arguably the most fierce rivalry in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, Big Blue has garnered appreciation for their ground-and-pound attack and consistently-prolific defense since their inception in 1925.

9. Detroit Red Wings

With the most Stanley Cups (11) of any United States-based NHL franchise, it's easy to see why the sports media refers to Detroit as "Hockeytown."

Missing the playoffs only four times between 1933 and 1966 and making it the past 20 years is sure to garner an impressed fanbase. This is the longest streak of postseason appearances for any United States sports franchise.

8. Boston Red Sox

While their popularity is undeniable, considering their almost-32,000 average road attendance and eight straight years of sellouts at Fenway Park, an angry aura among Red Sox fans was likely prosperous between the championship-bereft years of 1918 and 2004.

With the team's World Series victories in 2004 and 2007, the Red Sox fanbase was more than relieved.

This year's collapse may have brought animosity from the media, but the loyal fanbase will never fade.

7. Michigan Wolverines Football

Not only do the Wolverines have the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history, but they are known for their astonishing attendance numbers at Michigan stadium, averaging far more fans than the average NFL game.

These are more than just routine battles on the gridiron; these games are spectacles.

6. Dallas Cowboys

While their recent lack of success has led to murky optimism, the Cowboys have the numbers to satisfy their popularity.

Their streak of 160 sold-out regular and post-season games (beginning in 1990) included 79 straight sellouts at their home stadium and 81 straight sell-outs on the road.

They may be the wealthiest team in the NFL ($269 million in annual revenue), but the Dallas franchise will have no problem keeping fans around with their down-to-the-wire games and not-quite-there performances.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

While the acclaimed Lakers hold the record for NBA's longest winning streak (33), have 16 Hall of Famers and have had four MVPs, it's their eye-popping performances in the clutch that have earned the team the most respect.

The accomplished Los Angeles franchise, never bereft of superstars, has won 17 championships (16 in the NBA) and continues to intimidate opponents with bright colors and stellar play.

A career in the spotlight following basketball seems absolute for any former Laker.

1. Manchester United

As the first English football club to win the European Cup, Manchester United naturally garnered plenty of attention.

Current manager Sir Alex Ferguson has helped preserve the early stardom by winning 37 major honors since taking over in 1986.

While their record 19 league titles, 11 FA Cups, four League Cups and 19 FA Community Shields are quite commendable, their Forbes magazine-high $1.86 billion worth speaks the loudest with their popularity.